Hair vacuum system

ABSTRACT

A hair vacuum system including a hair suction assembly having a container having a hair-intake-opening, a housing with an inner volume for storing hair, a hair-removal-opening, and at least one vent, a suction unit for vacuum suctioning excess hair during hair styling, a sensor for sensing hand movement to activate the suction unit, and a power source. Hair vacuum system provides salons and hair stylists with a vacuum device that eliminates excess wet, dry, cut, and/or dead strands of hair from the front and back of a hand of a stylist, eliminating the need to stop working on a client&#39;s hair in order to remove tangles around the hand and fingers of the stylist.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/447,900 filed Jan. 18, 2017, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of salonaccessories and more specifically relates to a hair vacuum system.

2. Description of Related Art

While styling hair, excess dry and wet hair accumulates on the front andback of the hands and fingers. Dead strands of hair that accumulate canre-enter the hair while the stylist is working, leaving clients with aless-than-desired look. People may try to use towels and other methodsof removing dead hair from the hands; however, these methods may beineffective and time consuming. Stylists spend additional time cleaningtheir hands and less time working with clients. A suitable solution isdesired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,436 to Anthony R. Fratoni, Jr. relates to a vacuumapparatus for salon and barber chairs. The described vacuum apparatusfor salon and barber chairs includes a vacuum apparatus for collectingfallen cut hair from a floor during hair grooming. the vacuum apparatushas a base, a suction unit mounted on the base and a shroud removablydisposed about the base. The base is separable having a female portionand a male portion for receiving a post of a chair therebetween the baseportions and the portions each having a baffle therein. The shroud isseparable having a plurality of inlet openings through which the cuthair initially passes while being directed by the baffle through thesuction unit enroute to a receptacle removably disposed on the suctionunit for collection and for subsequent disposal of the cut hair. Thefemale and male portions are engaged in a mating relationship and aremaintained therein by a sealant. The shroud, being separable, expandablyfits over the base and is kept in place about the base with a hook and aloop type fastener disposed on the shroud. The vacuum apparatus can bereadily adapted to fit onto an existing barber and salon chair withoutmodification to the chair so that a floor of a hair grooming shop may bekept clean during hair cutting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known salonaccessory art, the present disclosure provides a novel hair vacuumsystem. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a vacuum devicethat eliminates excess wet, dry, cut, and/or dead strands of hair fromthe front and back of a hand of a stylist while working.

A hair vacuum system is disclosed herein. The hair vacuum systemincludes a hair suction assembly having a container having ahair-intake-opening, a housing with an inner volume for storing hair, ahair-removal-opening, and at least one vent, a suction unit for vacuumsuctioning excess hair during hair styling, a sensor for sensing handmovement to activate the suction unit, and a power source. The hairvacuum system comprises the hair suction assembly. The hair suctionassembly comprises the container, the suction unit, the motion sensor,and the power source in function combination. The container comprisesthe hair-intake-opening, the inner volume for storing hair, thehair-removal-opening, and the at least one vent configured to vacuumsuction excess hair during hair styling by waving the hand of a userover the sensor to activate the suction unit and collect the hair in theinner volume for later disposal.

The suction unit comprises a motor powered by the power source. Thepower source may include batteries, an ac outlet able to be accessed viaan electrical cord, or other suitable power source. The container mayfurther comprise suction cups on a bottom surface of the housing forsuction-coupling the hair suction assembly to a planar surface. Thehousing having the inner volume houses a filter bag for storing hair anddisposing of the hair when emptied. The filter bag is removable anddisposable. The hair-removal-opening is positioned on the bottom surfaceof the container for retrieving and disposing of the hair stored withinthe inner volume of the housing. The container comprises a substantiallyrectangular prism shape. The hair-intake-opening is located on a topsurface of the container allowing excess hair to enter thehair-intake-opening via the suction unit upon activation. The vent ispositioned on a side wall of the container allowing for greater airflowand vacuum suctioning capability. The sensor comprises a motion sensor.The motion sensor is able to sense movement of a hand above thecontainer and activates the suction unit. The container comprises asubstantially flat bottom surface and top surface such that thecontainer is able to be placed on the planar surface. The container mayinclude open vented coils on the top surface.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, ahair vacuum system, constructed and operative according to the teachingsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system during an‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relates to asalon accessory and more particularly to a hair vacuum system as used toimprove the efficiency in hair cutting processes.

Generally speaking, many women enjoy going to the salon. A salon is anestablishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women. Somesalons focus on all forms of beauty treatment, while others simply focuson hair. Hair salons employ stylists that specialize in hair coloring,hair-cutting, and hair texturing techniques. The present inventionprovides salons and hair stylists with a vacuum device that eliminatesexcess wet, dry, cut, and/or dead strands of hair from the front andback of the hand. This eliminates the need to stop working on a client'shair in order to remove tangles around the hand and fingers of thestylist.

The device disclosed may include suction cups on the bottom portion inorder to firmly secure the device to a counter or tabletop surface. Thepresent invention preferably utilizes a motion sensor in order toautomatically activate the device when a person's hand is placed overtopthe suction vent. The present invention saves extensive amounts of time,effort, and money in a hair salon, effectively improving efficiencywhile styling hair. Hair vacuum system is a small suction devicedesigned to remove excess wet or dry hair from the hands while stylinghair. The device is preferably comprised of a rectangular structure withsuction cups on the bottom, side vents, a motion sensor, and a ventedopening at the top.

Within the interior may be a small motor capable of being powered via anelectrical plug connected to available AC power or DC batteries. Themotor enables the device to provide suction, effectively removing hairfrom a hand when placed over the top vent. Users may plug in orotherwise activate the device when hair removal is needed. The device isable to be affixed to a tabletop or countertop via the suction cups onthe bottom portion. The user can place or move their hand overtop themotion sensor and top vent. The suction from the device pulls dead, wet,and/or dry hair from the hands and into the device. A filter bag is ableto store the dead hair until removal is required. The device can beemptied by opening the bottom portion of the device. The product isintended to improve efficiency for hair stylists and their clients. Hairvacuum system can be constructed using plastic, metal, and othersuitable materials. The device may be available in a universal sizecapable of accommodating all user needs and preferences.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, various views of a hair vacuumsystem 100. FIG. 1 shows a hair vacuum system 100 during an ‘in-use’condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. AsIllustrated, the hair vacuum system 100 may include a hair suctionassembly 110 having a container 120 having a hair-intake-opening 126, ahousing 128 with an inner volume 132 for storing hair, ahair-removal-opening 134, and at least one vent 136, a suction unit 142for vacuum suctioning excess hair during hair styling, a sensor 158 forsensing hand movement to activate the suction unit 142, and a powersource 166. As such, the hair vacuum system 100 comprises the hairsuction assembly 110. The hair suction assembly 110 comprises thecontainer 120, the suction unit 142, the sensor 158, and the powersource 166 in function combination. The container 120 comprises thehair-intake-opening 126, the inner volume 132 for storing hair, thehair-removal-opening 134, and the at least one vent 136 configured tovacuum suction excess hair during hair styling by waving the hand of auser over the sensor to activate the suction unit and collect the hairin the inner volume 132 for later disposal.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system 100 ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above,the hair vacuum system 100 may include a hair suction assembly 110having a container 120 having a hair-intake-opening 126, a housing 128with an inner volume 132 for storing hair, a hair-removal-opening 134,and at least one vent 136, a suction unit 142 for vacuum suctioningexcess hair during hair styling, a sensor 158 for sensing hand movementto activate the suction unit 142, and a power source 166. The suctionunit 142 comprises a motor powered by the power source 166. The powersource 166 may include (DC powering means) batteries, or an AC outletable to be accessed via an electrical cord 168, or other suitable powersource may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system 100 ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above,the hair vacuum system 100 may include a container 120. The container120 may further comprise suction cups 130 on a bottom surface of thehousing 128 for suction-coupling the hair suction assembly 110 to aplanar surface. The housing 128 having the inner volume 132 houses afilter bag for storing hair and disposing of the hair until whenemptied. The filter bag is removable and disposable in so-equippedembodiments. The hair-removal-opening 134 is positioned on the bottomsurface of the container 120 for retrieving and disposing of the hairstored within the inner volume 132 of the housing 128. The container 120comprises a substantially rectangular prism shape, a cylindricalprofile, or other suitable shape based on manufacturing.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the hair vacuum system 100 ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above,the hair vacuum system 100 may include a container 120 having asubstantially rectangular prism shape, as shown. The container 120comprises a substantially flat bottom surface and top surface such thatthe container 120 is able to be placed on the planar surface.

FIG. 5 shows another front perspective view of the hair vacuum system100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asabove, the hair vacuum system 100 may include the hair suction assembly110 having a container 120 having a hair-intake-opening, a housing 128with an inner volume 132 for storing hair, a hair-removal-opening 134,and at least one vent 136, a suction unit 142 for vacuum suctioningexcess hair during hair styling, a sensor 158 for sensing hand movementto activate the suction unit 142, and a power source 166.

The hair-intake-opening 126 is located on a top surface of the container120 allowing excess hair to enter the hair-intake-opening 126 via pullfrom the suction unit 142 upon activation (when in an on-condition). Thevent 136 may be positioned on a side wall of the container 120 allowingfor greater airflow and vacuum suctioning capability. The sensor 158comprises a motion sensor or the like. The motion sensor is able tosense movement of the hand above the container 120 and activates thesuction unit 142. The container 120 preferably comprises a substantiallyflat bottom surface and top surface such that the container 120 is ableto be placed on the planar surface. The container 120 may furthercomprise open vented coils on the top surface.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A hair vacuum system, the system comprising: a hair suction assembly having; a container having; a hair-intake-opening; a housing with an inner volume for storing hair; a hair-removal-opening; and at least one vent; a suction unit for vacuum suctioning excess hair during hair styling; a sensor for sensing hand movement to activate the suction unit; and a power source; wherein the hair vacuum system comprises the hair suction assembly; wherein the hair suction assembly comprises the container, the suction unit, the motion sensor and the power source in function combination; and wherein the container comprises the hair-intake-opening, the inner volume for storing hair, the hair-removal-opening, and the at least one vent configured to vacuum suction excess hair during hair styling by waving the hand of a user over the motion sensor to activate the suction unit and collect the hair in the inner volume for later disposal.
 2. The hair vacuum system of claim 1, wherein the suction unit comprises a motor powered by the power source.
 3. The hair vacuum system of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises batteries.
 4. The hair vacuum system of claim 3, wherein the power source is an ac outlet able to be accessed via an electrical cord.
 5. The hair vacuum system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises suction cups on a bottom surface of the housing for suction-coupling the hair suction assembly to a planar surface.
 6. The hair vacuum system of claim 5, wherein the housing having the inner volume houses a filter bag for storing hair and disposing of the hair when emptied.
 7. The hair vacuum system of claim 6, wherein the filter bag is removable and disposable.
 8. The hair vacuum system of claim 7, wherein the hair-removal-opening is positioned on the bottom surface of the container for retrieving and disposing of the hair stored within the inner volume of the housing.
 9. The hair vacuum system of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a substantially rectangular prism shape.
 10. The hair vacuum system of claim 9, wherein the hair-intake-opening is located on a top surface of the container allowing excess said hair to enter the hair-intake-opening via the suction unit upon activation.
 11. The hair vacuum system of claim 10, wherein the vent is positioned on a side wall of the container allowing for greater airflow and vacuum suctioning capability.
 12. The hair vacuum system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.
 13. The hair vacuum system of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor is able to sense movement of said hand above the container and activates the suction unit
 14. The hair vacuum system of claim 13, wherein the container comprises a substantially flat said bottom surface and said top surface such that said container is able to be placed on said planar surface.
 15. The hair vacuum system of claim 14, wherein the container comprises open vented coils on the top surface.
 16. The hair vacuum system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a cylindrical shaped profile.
 17. A hair vacuum system, the system comprising: a hair suction assembly having; a container having; a hair-intake-opening; a housing with an inner volume for storing hair; a hair-removal-opening; and at least one vent; a suction unit for vacuum suctioning excess hair during hair styling; a sensor for sensing hand movement to activate the suction unit; and a power source; wherein the hair vacuum system comprises the hair suction assembly; wherein the hair suction assembly comprises the container, the suction unit, the motion sensor and the power source in function combination; wherein the container comprises the hair-intake-opening, the inner volume for storing hair, the hair-removal-opening, and the at least one vent configured to vacuum suction excess hair during hair styling by waving the hand of a user over the motion sensor to activate the suction unit and collect the hair in the inner volume for later disposal; wherein the suction unit comprises a motor powered by the power source; wherein the power source is an ac outlet able to be accessed via an electrical cord; wherein the container further comprises suction cups on a bottom surface of the housing for suction-coupling the hair suction assembly to a planar surface; wherein the housing having the inner volume houses a filter bag for storing hair and disposing of the hair when emptied; wherein the filter bag is removable and disposable; wherein the hair-removal-opening is positioned on the bottom surface of the container for retrieving and disposing of the hair stored within the inner volume of the housing; wherein the container comprises a substantially rectangular prism shape; wherein the hair-intake-opening is located on a top surface of the container allowing excess said hair to enter the hair-intake-opening via the suction unit upon activation; wherein the vent is positioned on a side wall of the container allowing for greater airflow and vacuum suctioning capability; wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor; wherein the motion sensor is able to sense movement of said hand above the container and activates the suction unit; and wherein the container comprises a substantially flat said bottom surface and said top surface such that said container is able to be placed on said planar surface. 